(a) whether there is a shortage of trained teachers in Government schools in the States including Punjab;

(b)if so, the details thereof, State-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of untrained teachers engaged on contractual basis in teaching under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan at present, State-wise and the measures taken to train them;

(d) whether the Government provides any financial assistance for training of untrained teachers and is so, the details thereof including the funds provided/being provided for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, State- wise; and

(e) the action taken by the Government to provide trained teachers to all the Government schools in the country during the current Five Year Plan?

Answer:

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) & (b): Since the inception of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a total of 19.82 lakh teacher posts have been sanctioned till 2012-13, against which 12.86 lakh teachers have been recruited up to 31.12.2012. The State-wise list of teacher posts sanctioned as well as recruited under the SSA including Punjab is at Annexure I.

(c) to (e): As per the District Information System for Education (DISE) – 2011-12 (Provisional), the number of untrained teachers engaged on a contractual basis, State-wise, at the elementary level is at Annexure II. The SSA provides for `6000/- per teacher per year for two years, for the training of untrained teachers to enable them to acquire the professional qualification through the open distance learning mode. A statement of funds allocated for the training of untrained teachers during the last three years, State-wise, is at Annexure III.